I use this Hypericum and Calendula Cream. It's really good, almost everyone I know with tattoos uses it now. I buy it at the health food store, maybe there's something similar in the US?

Ooooh, thanks for that! I am getting my first tattoo in October (had the consultation on Saturday) and was wondering what to use seeing as everyone seems to recommend not-vegan bepanthen.

Incidentally, what experience do you guys have with getting work done freehand? I'm a wee bit nervy about it as obvs I'm not going to see the design beforehand! The (vegan!) artist has a blog tho where she posts all her work and it's all awesome, but still...

GymClassZero wrote:

And a question: I've got scarring on my left forearm. The scars are about 5-6 years old. Would that be an issue?

It could be an issue, from what I've read: the artist who's doing my tattoo recently wrote a post about (in this instance self-harm) scars and talked about how an irregular piece is best as it can incorporate/distract from the various bumps. Obviously I'm no expert at all, but I would think a straight-up solid-black/colour piece perhaps wouldn't work so great. Talk to your proposed artist tho, I'm sure they'll know best!

_________________"I will take a drugged, sex-crazed, punk rock commie over Mrs. Thatch any day of the week" - Vantine

i've used a variety of things, for my boar i used coconut oil. i don't think that it is a very good healing agent as it lacks the viscosity of better balms. black cat is vegan and i've used that before and liked it. i am curious about the merry hempster or dr. bronner's has anyone used that?

I used the Merry Hempster vegan lotion. It's non scented, but the smell got a little old by the end of the first week. I'm not a big lotion person. It did a nice job of keeping my tattoo from itching. I didn't scab up at all. I don't know if that's from the lotion or a sign that the tattoo was done well, because this was my first tattoo. I was also worried about applying too much lotion, and the Merry Hempster lotion was pretty good about soaking in to my skin and not just sitting gloppily on top. I didn't use a salve or anything thicker at all. So, I would use it again, but then again I don't have anything else to compare it to. It worked for me.

_________________http://sisterlegumes.com Vegans sisters, a city apart.Our baby looked like a bean, so now we are pro-life. And we don't eat beans. -Tofulish

After seeing my sister's awesome tattoo, now I want to expand mine. It's 14 years old and the color is not visible anymore, plus it's kinda small. It's a flower with vines so I guess expanding on that basis shouldn't be difficult. Can old tattoos be made to look fresher? I wouldn't want the addition and the old part to look totally different.

The artist should go over the old tattoo completely and incorporate it into the newer pieces. The colors will all be vibrant that way.

Incidentally, what experience do you guys have with getting work done freehand? I'm a wee bit nervy about it as obvs I'm not going to see the design beforehand! The (vegan!) artist has a blog tho where she posts all her work and it's all awesome, but still...

I'm getting a large piece done, and my artist is doing it freehand. We worked off a handful of photographs as source material, so what we came up with isn't a replica of any specific photo. These are all from day 1, where we spent about 3 hours on design/sharpie sketches and another 5 roughing in the design. I'm over 20 hours into it now with one more session to go, so it's come a long way since then and I'll post pics when it's done! If you have specific questions about the process (at least the way my artist does it) let me know and I'll try to answer them for you.1 - Sketch-back by zensquiggle, on Flickr

I need some word-tattoo advice. Ive been planning on getting 'fag' tattooed on me for a while, I'm definitely settled on that. Recently my friend and I were out having fun and she thought we should both get 'boy crazy' to commemorate this very awesome but pretty ridiculous period of time were goig through, heh. I LOVED the idea, but now Im thinking having 'fag' in one spot and 'boy crazy' in another is pretty ridiculous right? P.S., 'fag' definitely wont be too visible, probably neither would 'boy crazy'.

Getting my second tattoo tomorrow! More text. It was going to be "You are enough" but now I'm thinking just the word enough and maybe some doodles around it? Squiggly lines or a vine or something. (Would appreciate suggestions of relatively easy decorations that go around a word tattoo, if that makes sense!)

I've been thinking a lot about tattoos for the past half a year, and I really want a pig on my right foot and a rooster on the left. Also an outline of the great lakes on my right thigh. A few weeks ago I had a henna tattoo of a sloop on my left forearm and really liked that, too. The ones I want the most are the pig and rooster and the great lakes, though, because they all have meaning, but those have the most.My parents would really disapprove though, and even though I'm 20 and away from home....ugh.My friend got a really awesome tattoo this weekend and that makes me just want them even more. *sigh*

I've been thinking a lot about tattoos for the past half a year, and I really want a pig on my right foot and a rooster on the left. Also an outline of the great lakes on my right thigh. A few weeks ago I had a henna tattoo of a sloop on my left forearm and really liked that, too. The ones I want the most are the pig and rooster and the great lakes, though, because they all have meaning, but those have the most.My parents would really disapprove though, and even though I'm 20 and away from home....ugh.My friend got a really awesome tattoo this weekend and that makes me just want them even more. *sigh*

You know, I was totally expecting to get grief from my parents when I got tattooed but it turns out they both love them and rave about them. As does my grandma!

_________________"I'd rather have dried catshit! I'd rather have astroturf! I'd rather have an igloo!"~Isa

"But really, anyone willing to dangle their baby in front of a crocodile is A-OK in my book."~SSD

Getting my second tattoo tomorrow! More text. It was going to be "You are enough" but now I'm thinking just the word enough and maybe some doodles around it? Squiggly lines or a vine or something. (Would appreciate suggestions of relatively easy decorations that go around a word tattoo, if that makes sense!)

Perhaps you could get the word inside of a banner. I like just the word 'enough'.

_________________http://sisterlegumes.com Vegans sisters, a city apart.Our baby looked like a bean, so now we are pro-life. And we don't eat beans. -Tofulish

I love it so much I'm not going to make a pun out of the word beet. It's great seeing so many food/vegan related tattoos. I don't know anyone other than the fine folks here who would think of getting a vegetable tattoo. My next one will be strawberries.

_________________Did you notice the slight feeling of panic at the words "Chicken Basin Street"? Like someone was walking over your grave? Try not to remember. We must never remember. - mumblesIs this about devilberries and nazifruit again? - footface

I'm taking my mum to get tattooed in a few weeks, as her 50th birthday present to herself. I'm going to get something small (quotation marks behind my ears) just for moral support really, and then we're going to go to the vegan dessert cafe around the corner and stuff ourselves full of cake. Pretty perfect day!